Liverpool confirm the signing of Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo as Andoni Iraola moves to fix defensive crisis just 13 days out from Premier League opener against Newcastle
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan with an option to buy.
The 27-year-old defender flew to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon and has since completed his medical.
The Reds have the option to purchase the Uruguay international at the end of the campaign for £47million.
‘I can’t wait to get started. I’m very, very happy,’ Araujo said.
‘I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my teammates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for getting going.
‘I think it was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.
‘As I say, I’m super-happy to be here and excited to get started. I’m glad about the interest and it was the right move at the right time.’
Liverpool have confirmed the loan signing of Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo
The Uruguayan defender has joined the Anfield club on a season long loan
Andoni Iraola has sought to address his defensive crisis with a number of centre halves injured
Araujo wanted to leave Barca, where he has spent eight years, after talks with coach Hansi Flick made it apparent he would not be guaranteed regular starts. He believes he is likely to play more minutes under Reds’ new boss Andoni Iraola.
The centre-back gives Liverpool experience and vital defensive cover as he is able to play at the heart of the backline and at right-back.
Joe Gomez suffered a muscle injury in Liverpool’s opening pre-season game, while teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from an ACL injury, and new signing Jeremy Jacquet is yet to feature this summer.
It leaves captain Virgil van Dijk as Liverpool’s only fully fit senior centre-back with their Premier League opener away at Newcastle less than two weeks away.
The Uruguay international joined Barcelona B in 2018 before being promoted to the first team in 2020.
He has made more than 200 appearances for Barcelona but finds himself down the pecking order in Spain, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin ahead of him.
